Earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Centre, the DLSU Green Spikers defeated the UE Red Warriors in four sets, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21. With the win, La Salle improved its standing to a 2-4 record while UE remains winless in the tournament.
Arjay Onia led all scorers with 21 points on 19 attacks and two blocks. Rafael Del Pilar, Cris Dumago, and Levin Dimayuga added 12 points each. Edward Camposano and Clifford Inoferio led UE with 20 and 13 points, respectively, while Geric Ortega added six points in the team’s losing effort.
A close match started between the two teams in the first set. However, the Green-and-White squad started pulling away to gain a three-point lead, 9-6. At 17-13, La Salle scored six consecutive points which was stopped by a back attack from Camposano to put the score at 23-14. A Dimayuga attack and Onia block capped the first set with a score of 25-14, in favor of DLSU.
The two teams traded points early into the second set but the Green Spikers’ 4-1 run gave them a three-point advantage, 6-3. Midway through the set, Alba came alive to start a 6-2 run for UE to cut La Salle’s lead to one, 17-16. The Red Warriors reached a break point at 18-all, wherein they scored a 3-1 run to take the lead. La Salle tried to close the gap, but UE prevented them from scoring consecutively. An attack from Alba ended the set at 25-23, in favor of the Red Warriors.
The third set saw the Green-and-White squad score four consecutive points after Geric Ortega scored the set’s first points off a block to give DLSU an early advantage, 4-1. At 13-7, the Red Warriors trimmed the lead to one after making a 6-1 run, 14-13. However, they were unable to make it to break point throughout the set as DLSU protected their lead. A UE error gave the set to La Salle at 25-21.
Similar to the first set, the fourth started with an intense exchange of scores. At 12-all, however, DLSU made a 6-1 run after capitalizing on UE’s errors. The Red Warriors cut La Salle’s lead to two as they scored five back-to-back points, behind Inoferio and Camposano’s efforts, 21-19. However, the Green Spikers kept their advantage until the end of the set. Onia scored off the block to win La Salle the set and match at 25-21.
The Green Spikers outperformed UE after scoring off 57 attacks, seven blocks, and three service aces accumulating 23 errors. On the other side of the court, the Red Warriors recorded 49 attacks, seven blocks, and two aces, although logging 31 errors.
Coach Nes Pamilar shared that he still expects more from the team despite its win. “Kung baga, hindi ako satisfied na nanalo tayo, hindi ako masaya. (I’m not satisfied, even with the win. I’m still not happy with the team’s performance.)” La Salle will face the ADMU Blue Eagles at the Mall of Asia Arena this Saturday, March 4, at 10 am.
The Scores:
DLSU 57 – Onia 21, Del Pilar 12, Dumago 12, Dimayuga 12, Jose 6, Asia G. 3, Asia R. 1
UE 49 – Camposano 20, Inofferio 13, Alba 11, Ortega 6, Lelic 5, Aljas 3
